The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-11-03


of the Inflated Magellan at the same
point is recalled by this which is more
full of horrors, because of the greater loss
of life, the criminal cowardice of those
who saw men and women struggling for
life in the cold waters and amid mountain
waves which made immediate help the
only kind that could be of avail, but who
proceeded on their way to Milwaukee to
simulate sorrow and plead hard necessi-
ty as an excuse for their craven conduct.
They could render no assistance, they
explain, but on their own confession they
did not try, and hence do not know what
they could have done. If the Page and
Superior were in such condition as they
claim, why did they run to Milwaukee in
stead of Manitowoc, where they would
be safe from the danger that threatened
them, and which was so serious that it
justified them in passing drowning men
signaling and even shouting for help,
without making the slightest effort at
rescue? The brutal disregard is further
emphasized by failure to run in here and
give notice, and thus make partial amends
for the cowardly care exercised lest harm
should come to them. Men possessed of
ordinary feelings of humanity do not cal
culate to nicely every little risk to be
assumed in saving life when they are the
only ones in a position to make the at
tempt, and while unusual cowardice
might abandon the struggling people to
their fate, nothing but brutal Indifference
would prevent notice from being given,
when to do so would incur no danger and
make assistance certain.
The Vernon the steamer which went
down with loss of life of 80, as nearly
as can be ascertained, took the place of
the Champlain which was destroyed by
fire last spring, also with loss of life
She ran between Chicago and Mackinac
on the Northern Michigan Line and fire.
quently called at this place for freight
and passengers. When lost she was on
her way from Glen Haven to Milwaukee
and was probably running to this port
for shelter. Though she went down ear
! ly Saturday morning near Two Rivers
Point, no news of the disaster reached
this place or Two Rivers until the arrival
of The Sunday Sentinel, which got its ac-
count from the captains of the schooner
Page and the steamer Superior, both OF
which ran through the wreckage and
past those on RATS and in yawl boats Oh
sea described as terrible. The Super
ior passed through the wreckage about
10 o'clock Saturday morning. Wher
northeast of Manitowoc a raft was sight
ed with a man on it standing upright
and waving his hand to attract attention
a few minutes later another raft was seer
with man lying upon it and then yaw
with three men and one woman. One o
the men stood up and waved his coat tt
attract attention. The Page struck thu
wreckage at 11:30 Saturday. A piece o
the pilot house with man on it wa:
passed. Saturday afternoon the schoonel
William Home passed through wreckag,
and floating bodies. First three bodies
one a woman, then the lifeless body of ;
man standing erect on the pilot house
only a distance of 200 feet, next the bod,
OF man with life preserver with legs
up and head down, and woman PARTIAL,
dressed, with long, black hair floating
over the life preserver. The fishing tug
Maggie Lutz picked up some wreckag'
on Monday which was the first positive
evidence that the Vernon was the steame
lost.
On Tuesday, Mr.. Burk, one of thu
Northern Michigan Line, came to Man
itowoc and chartered the tug Pankrat.
to cruise about in search of bodies. His
anxious to learn something of his boy
About o'clock in the afternoon the frs
body was found, that of young mar
about % years of age with German fea
lures. He was almost upright in the
water, although wholly under it, the life
preserver having slipped up. His peck
cts were filled with apples. An houl
later the second body was found, also
having a life preserver on. He was lying
face under, but buoyed up by the life
preserver. He was about 30 and of in
teligent appearance. The tug reached
this place about dark and the bodies were
put IN charge of Anton Vogt, awaiting
an inquest.
Tuesday night, news from Sturgeon
Bay was received that man was picked
up from a raft eight miles from Sheboy.
gan, alive but nearly exhausted on Mon
day morning at 5 o'clock, by the schooner
Pomeroy. Few were disposed to believe
it as it seemed incredible a man could
| live so hours on raft in terrible sea
and in weather SO cold as that of Satur-
day and Sunday. But it was true, new
ertheless. He is a Swede, named Edward
Stone, and was one of the fremen. He
was asleep and was awakened by the
commotion caused by the disaster and
| sprang through a window and succeeded
in reaching a raft on which were six other
persons. He does not know what caused
the wreck and says none of those with
HIM knew. The disaster occurred about
midnight. There were fully so persons
aboard. Most went down with the boat
which seemed to sink almost instantane-
olsly. The pilot house was torn off and
some sought refuge on it. One by one
those on the raft persisted or washed off
until Stone was the only one left When
| found there was beside Stone, the dead
body of one of the crew on the raft
When Sturgeon Bay was reached Stone
| had so far recovered as tie be able to talk
readily but showed signs of the terrible
suffering he had endured WHICH few men